Civil Society and Lawmakers Demand Full Reckoning After Ex-Lawmaker's Arrest in Prague
Various civil society organizations and fellow legislators have issued a strong call for full public reckoning and the recovery of misappropriated funds following the reported arrest of former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co in Prague, Czech Republic, on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
Co, along with other House members and senior officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), stands accused of embezzling billions of pesos allocated for flood control projects. Investigations have revealed that many of these projects exhibited serious anomalies, with some being identified as ghost projects that never materialized.
A Litmus Test for Anti-Corruption Efforts
Pete Ilagan, president of the civil society group PH Haiyan Advocacy based in Tacloban City, emphasized that this case represents a critical test for the current administration's anti-corruption campaign. "The public isn't just looking for an arrest; they are looking for the recovery of funds and actual convictions," Ilagan stated in an interview with Sunstar Philippines on Friday, April 17.
Ilagan expressed particular interest in the development due to Tacloban's status as ground zero during the devastating 2013 Super Typhoon Yolanda. The city is a recipient of the national government's Causeway Project, funded with P4.59 billion and implemented by a construction company reportedly owned by the controversial former lawmaker.
Direct Impact on Farmers and Rural Communities
Danny Carranza, secretary general of Kilusan para sa Repormang Agraryo at Katarungang Panlipunan (Katarungan), highlighted the severe consequences of corruption in flood control projects. "Corruption in projects such as flood control has direct and devastating consequences on farmers. Poorly implemented or irregular infrastructure projects exacerbate flooding, damage crops, destroy livelihoods, and push already struggling rural families further into poverty," Carranza explained.
He further stressed the need for comprehensive accountability, stating, "We expect that this case will be pursued with transparency, urgency, and impartiality. Accountability must not stop at one individual, but should extend to all those involved, regardless of position or influence."
Progressive Lawmakers Emphasize Systemic Issues
In a joint statement released on April 17, progressive lawmakers including ACT Teachers Representatives Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Women's Party Representative Sarah Jane Elago, and Kabataan Representative Atty. Renee Louise Co welcomed Co's arrest as a step toward justice. They maintained that this development "finally opens the door for him to face the serious cases filed against him in the Philippines."
The legislators cautioned, however, that "His return must not be reduced to a media spectacle or a convenient ending; it must be the beginning of a full public reckoning over the flood control scam and the broader system of corruption in public works and budgeting."
Government Coordination and Public Outrage
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed on Thursday that the government is "in close coordination with the Czech government to ensure that all legal processes are followed and to arrange for his return to the Philippines at the soonest possible time."
Ricardo Todio Jr., leader of the Association of Young Environmentalist Journalists of the Philippines (Ayej)-Leyte Chapter, described Co's arrest as a "significant development." He urged authorities to conduct an immediate, fair, and transparent investigation to uncover all involved parties and the mechanisms used to execute the scheme with public funds.
The flood control scam has been a persistent source of public outrage and nationwide street protests since last year, as millions of Filipinos continue to suffer from flooding despite annual allocations for flood control projects. In November 2025 alone, widespread flooding from monsoons and typhoons resulted in at least 114 deaths and 127 missing persons.
In a related development, the anti-graft court issued a warrant of arrest against Co in November 2025 for graft and malversation connected to an allegedly anomalous multi-million road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. Co, a former chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, was subsequently declared a "fugitive from justice" after failing to submit to the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.
